Newcastle United prospect Mason Miley must make the most of his 'all-in' attitude as he looks to follow older brother Lewis into the first-team setup at St James' Park.
The 17-year-old has enjoyed a stellar 12 months within the Magpies academy system after progressing into the Under-21s side during the second half of last season following an impressive string of performances at Under-18s level.
Miley made his Premier League 2 bow in a Wear-Tyne derby draw at Sunderland in January and went on to make a further nine appearances working under Under-21s lead coach Robbie Stockdale before the end of the season.
First professional contract
The youngster's progress was rewarded with a first professional contract last month and that allowed him to quickly set his sights on racking up further achievements during the new season.
He said: "I had a good breakthrough season in my first year of full-time football after the school programme. I think I kicked on at the start of the season, training with the first-team a few times and making a number of appearances for the under-21s, so I thought I impressed and want to keep pushing on."
"I'll be aiming to have another good season with the U21s and try to train with the first-team as much as possible, impressing the staff, and hopefully make an appearance in the matchday squad."
"In the long-term, it would be trying to get on the bench and making my debut for this club because that would mean a lot to me and my family."
Pre-season opportunity
The departures of Kieran Trippier and Emil Krafth, coupled with an injury to Tino Livramento, presented Miley with an unexpected opportunity at senior level during pre-season as he was called into the Magpies first-team squad.
Although naturally a midfielder, the Magpies prospect impressed at right-back in friendly fixtures with the likes of Valencia, Bayer Leverkusen and Everton - but returned to Stockdale's Under-21s to make his seasonal bow in Monday's 3-1 home defeat against Tottenham Hotspur.
Miley has received understandable acclaim for his performances alongside United's senior stars - and Stockdale has set out a challenge for the youngster as he embarks on his first full season within the Under-21s setup.
Stockdale's challenge
"The challenge is to keep building his performances," the Under-21s chief said. "He's all-in is Mason. He's such a great, young professional. He leaves everything out on the pitch, every game."
"There's just maybe that consistency, learning that position, it's not a position he's played an awful lot coming through the system."
"At the minute, he's played in the first team there and he's done really well. The one thing with Mason is he's all in and no matter what you're asking him, he'll give 100 per cent. As long as he keeps doing that, he will improve and get better."
Miley will hope to help the Magpies Under-21s to their first win of their Premier League 2 campaign when they entertain Fulham at Whitley Park on Monday night.
